Genesis 50

In this chapter, Joseph dies and Jacob is buried. It's not as weird as it sounds.

The real story is verse 20. I can't count the sermons and books based on that verse. My Reformed brothers and sisters seem to love the story of Joseph in general and verse 20 in particular. All I'll say is be very careful about deriving a general principle from a specific instance.

Genesis 49

Jacob's blessings for hiss sons are prophetic, describing their past, present, and future.

It's amazing that the patriarchs were also prophets. They spoke directly with God. The Holy Spirit, who knows the future, spoke through Jacob, and Jacob let him. That's what most people forget about hearing from God: letting him talk.

Genesis 48

Jacob knew the value of a blessing like no one else, and he also knew what it meant to favor the younger over the elder.

All of which is a long-winded way of saying that Jacob and God knew exactly what they were doing when Jacob crossed his arms.

Genesis 47

In this chapter Jacob meets Pharaoh.

Jacob isn't impressed with the most powerful man in the world. Interestingly, the opposite is true. Jacob is130 years old, which compared with his father and grandfather makes his days few indeed.

Not that I'm holding anyone up as an example, but I like that Jacob was unimpressed with Pharaoh's title or position. Rather, it was Pharaoh sought Jacob's wisdom.

We shouldn't be so eager to bend the knee to earthly titles. The spectacle of two professing Christians fighting each other over some office is frankly disgusting. Nothing in this world will last. If we have the spirit of the living God in us, what can this world add? The world should be running to God's people, not the other way around.  

Genesis46

In Genesis, genealogies usually mark the end of one story and the beginning of another. Here's the exception.

In this case, tells the reader that all the males of Jacob's line went to Egypt. The entire nation of Israel was there, as promised by God.

Genesis 45

At last we get the big reveal.

Joseph can no longer control himself,and Joseph tells his brothers who he is and what he's become, and instructs them to move themselves and their families to Egypt. He then sends gifts to his father, inviting him to move to Egypt, and then settles them all in the best land he knows of.

That's forgiveness.

Genesis 44

Benjamin came, and Joseph treated him like a king ... for a while, anyway. He then had his little brother falsely accused, and got Judah to beg him.

Lord only knows what the Egyptians thought.